Strathmore Cricket Union: the first 90 years a history 1928-2018

18 touring team lead by the entrepreneur, philanthropist and cricket-loving Sir Julien Cahn. Cahn had built up his businesses (by his brilliant use of “hire purchase” agreements) in the Midlands of England and was beginning to spread them to other part of the United Kingdom. He (and his father before him) had survived the undeniable disadvantage (in the early part of the 20th century) of being Jewish, was a great supporter of Nottinghamshire CCC and went round the country with his touring team which contained ex-Test players, the odd Australian or two, and a few young hopefuls. It is hard not to see a connection between the Strathmore Union being asked to provide opposition to this touring team and R W Sievwright’s increasing influence inside the Scottish Cricket Union (he would become President in 1932), but it was a great honour for the new League. Ameeting was held in January 1931 to discuss arrangements and to decide a venue. It was not the greatest of surprises to discover that Willie Eddie suggested Brechin while Bob Sievwright suggested Arbroath. A vote was taken and Arbroath won the right to host the fixture on 1st August 1931. Nevertheless, the match was played at Lochside Park, the home of Strathmore! How this came about the Minute Book is silent on, but one suspects the influence of the Earl of Strathmore who wished the game to be played at his favourite ground, the home of the team which was named after him. It could also be the simple logistic factor that Glamis Castle, where Sir Julien Cahn’s team would be staying, was a great deal closer to Forfar than it was to Arbroath. The Union also made a present of £10 to the Earl and Countess on their occasion of their Golden Wedding, something that seemed hardly necessary. In the event, the match on 1st August was embarrassingly one-sided, the tourists winning by 100 runs, but the weather was good, and the Earl himself did indeed turn up, and the good people of Forfar and district did get the chance to see some good batting from the English tourists, and the fine bowling of George Hearne of Notts who took 7 wickets as the Strathmore Union struggled to reach 35. The Union themselves made a profit of over £18 on the game. As far as weather was concerned, 1931 was far from a vintage year, but thanks to the Union’s wise policy of allowing the re-arrangement of postponed games, often during local holiday weeks in late July and early August, very few games were totally wiped out. Both Divisions of the League were won once again by Brechin, but this time Blairgowrie